Elliptical exercise methods and apparatus

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• a frame configured to rest on a floor surface;
• a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame for rotation about a common crank axis;
• a left foot supporting linkage, including a left foot platform, movably interconnected between the frame and the left crank in a manner that links rotation of the left crank to movement of the left foot support through a first generally elliptical foot path, including a first path position, wherein the left foot platform is disposed entirely to one side of a plane of symmetry extending perpendicular to the crank axis, and a second path position, wherein the left foot platform is intersected by the plane of symmetry;
• a right foot supporting linkage, including a right foot platform, movably interconnected between the frame and the right crank in a manner that links rotation of the right crank to movement of the right foot support through a second generally elliptical foot path, including a first path position, wherein the right foot platform is disposed entirely to one side of the plane of symmetry, and a second path position, wherein the right foot platform is intersected by the plane of symmetry, wherein the left crank and the right crank rotate together about the axis to contemporaneously move each said foot support through a respective said foot path,
• wherein each said foot supporting linkage includes a roller rotatably mounted on a respective said crank, a rocker link pivotally mounted on the frame, a rail operatively interconnected between a respective said roller and a respective said rocker link, wherein each said foot platform is movably mounted on a respective said rail, a first drawbar operatively interconnected between a respective said crank and a respective said rocker link, and a second drawbar operatively interconnected between a respective said rocker link and a respective said foot support.

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• a frame configured to rest on a floor surface;
• a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame;
• a left roller and a right roller, wherein each said roller is rotatably mounted on a respective said crank;
• a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is pivotally mounted on the frame;
• a left foot supporting arrangement and a right foot supporting arrangement, wherein each said foot supporting arrangement includes a foot platform, and is movably interconnected between a respective said crank and a respective said rocker link;
• a left first drawbar link and a right first drawbar link, wherein each said first drawbar link is movably interconnected between a respective said crank and a respective said rocker link in a manner that links rotation of each said crank to pivoting of each said rocker link and elliptical movement of each said foot platform;
• and
• a left second drawbar link and a right second drawbar link, wherein each said second drawbar link is movably interconnected between a respective said rocker link and a respective said foot supporting arrangement in a manner that links rotation of each said crank to lateral movement of each said foot platform about a respective axis extending generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation defined by at least one said crank.